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Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA Key Specs

Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Launched September 2014
Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released July 2018
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Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA, one is a Lens-style and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both built by Sony. The image resolution of the QX30 (20MP) and the RX100 VA (20MP) is fairly similar but the QX30 (1/2.3") and RX100 VA (1") have different sensor sizes.

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The QX30 was launched 4 years before the RX100 VA which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera and the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the QX30 grades vs the RX100 VA when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony RX100 VA

 QX30 RX100 VA 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Sony QX30

 RX100 VA QX30 
ReleasedJuly 2018September 2014Newer by 46 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution1229k0kCrisper display (+1229k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony QX30 and Sony RX100 VA

 QX30 RX100 VA 

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony QX30 provides physical dimensions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Sony RX100 VA has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the QX30 against the RX100 VA.

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the QX30 and RX100 VA is 91 and 89 respectively.

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over technical specs. The image here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the QX30 and RX100 VA.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with the identical resolution but different sensor dimensions. The QX30 features the tinier sensor which will make getting shallower DOF tougher. The more aged QX30 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony QX30 Portrait photography advice
Sony RX100 VA Portrait photography advice
38
good resolution (20MP)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
66
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Street photography camera
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
86
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than average in class (299g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Sports photography camera
47
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (200 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
70
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
high frames per second (24.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery life (220 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Travel photography camera
65
provides touch focus
good resolution (20MP)
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
76
lighter than average in class (299 grams)
MP count good (20MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony QX30 Landscape photography features
Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography features
39
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small ( inch)
manual mode not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery power (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
66
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Vlogging camera
35
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone socket
81
quite wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than average in class (299 grams)
does not have external mic support
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Sony QX30 vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony QX30 and Sony RX100 VA
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Type Lens-style Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-09-03 2018-07-13
Physical type Lens-style Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 315
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.3 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing - 3"
Display resolution 0 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 24.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes None Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 193g (0.43 pounds) 299g (0.66 pounds)
Physical dimensions 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photos 220 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BN, NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2, 10 secs) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $348 $998